Every day for me is Native Heritage Month

November is Native American Heritage Month, and for me, it’s always a mix of pride and reflection.

I’m Oglala Lakota, and I grew up on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota before moving to California in second grade.

Back home, being Native was just part of everyday life. 

But once I moved, everything felt different, I started to realize how much people outside the reservation didn’t really know about Native culture or history.

Something that’s always been strange for me is how I “don’t look Native.”

I have lighter skin and my last name is Romano, so most people don’t guess I’m Lakota. 

My mom’s family name is Imitates Dog, which carries so much history and pride, but I got my dad’s last name instead.

My little sister has the last name Imitates Dog and multiple people make fun of her last name. 

Sometimes I wish people could see that part of me first, because Imitates Dog connects me to generations before me, to  my family, my tribe, and my identity.

There have been times when I told people I’m Oglala Lakota, and they didn’t believe me. 

They’d say things like, “You don’t look Native,” or “Are you sure?” 

Those moments used to make me feel like I didn’t belong anywhere, not Native enough for one side, not “white” enough for the other.

But over time, I’ve learned that being Lakota isn’t about how I look or what my last name is, it’s about who I am and where I come from.

Moving to California helped me realize how important it is to keep my culture alive. 

At school, I hardly ever saw Native history being taught, and when it was, it felt like we were stuck in the past. But we’re still here. 

My family’s stories, our language, and our traditions remind me that I carry my heritage inside me, even if people can’t always see it on the outside.

Now, every November, I take time to share my story and educate others. 

Native American Heritage Month isn’t just about looking back, it’s about showing the world that Indigenous people are still here, still proud, and still connected to our roots.

Even if my last name doesn’t sound Lakota, my heart and my spirit will always be Oglala Lakota.